Chelsea 0-1 Bournemouth: The Report

Chelsea have lost 1-0 at home to Bournemouth in an appalling Premiership game at Stamford Bridge.

The defeat will once again call into question of Jose Mourinho as it sees Chelsea’s mini revival of late come crashing to an embarrassing end as Glenn Murray headed in a late goal from close range after yet more indecisive defending.

The game started well for the Blues with attempts from Hazard, which was saved, and Oscar. Bournemouth, making their first Premiership visit to Stamford Bridge, did not approach the game with any trepidation and tried to create chances of their own after the first few minutes- Junior Stanislas having a number of shots blocked from outside the box, and then one saved by returning Chelsea ‘keeper Thibaus Courtois.

There was good link up play from the attacking front men but Chelsea struggled to create chances on a regular basis. Starting with the same logic as they did last Sunday against Spurs, with Pedro and Hazard swapping in the up front position,

Cahill should have done better with a header from Willian’s corner and Pedro should have least tested the Bournemouth ‘keeper from inside the box as Chelsea were largely limited to set pieces and attempts from outside the area. Matic tried his luck from distance but his shot went over the bar, and Hazard’s just moments later was saved.

Joshua King had a similar effort as the game drew closer to its break but he could only put the ball over the bar, and Pedro had a shot well saved seconds later at the other end.

The second half began with the substitution of Oscar for Diego Costa as Mourinho sought to find a breakthrough. Both sides had attempts on goal early on through Pedro and Ritche respectively before Willian and Matic missed the target for Chelsea.

After a strong start the game became stuck in a quagmire of narrow channels in the Bournemouth half as the Blues demonstrated their limited ideas up front as they were once again forced to resort to shooting from distance for the want of clear chances. Both Pedro and Costa tested the ‘keeper from outside or near the edge of the box before Kurt Zouma missed from six yards out when he should have done better.

Chelsea were made to pay for their fecklessness in front of goal with 8 minutes left as Glenn Murray, who had only just come on as a substitute, finished a goal mouth scramble in the most simple of manners when neither Courtois, Cahill or Zouma were able to clear a corner. Mourinho brought on Remy and Traore but it was to no avail as Chelsea’s attempts to get back into the game this late on were futile.

In truth, it was a sham of a performance from a team with a great deal wrong with it. While there is no suggestion Mourinho will lose his job, the situation is becoming more precarious with every dropped point and defeat.It appears they now need a miracle to even qualify for European competition next season.